davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-12-07
The Climate Of Alaska.

It is remarkable indeed that so much
of the surface gronnd on the Yukon is
frozen solid to the depth of several feet.
It is all the more so when we come to
realize the fact that during the summer
it gets as hot there as in the South. Dur
ing the heat of the past season the miners
found it great convenience to 60 IN
bathing in the streams at least twice a
day, and to seek sandy places in which
to rock the gold out of the gravel. At
the breaking up of winter the hours of
sunshine are rapidly increasing, and con-
tinue so until midsummer, when the sun
beams forth twenty hours out of the
twenty-four, while on the high mountain
peaks it is for period of several days in
June not entirely out of sight during the
twenty-four hours But during all this
heat and long days of continuous sun
shine, the SUMS rays do not penetrate
the heavy MOSES that cover nearly the
entire surface of the country, and con-
sequcntly the frozen ground underneath
lies in that state as if packed in an ice
house. After it once becomes frozen, as
any damp ground will do in the winter
time, it quickly becomes covered with
this moss, which is of remarkably
rapid growth and attains a depth OF
some two feet or more.
During the heat of summer this moss
becomes dry to the depth of several
inches, and the miners think that by a
continuous burning of it as fast as it
dries they will soon have the gravel bars
along the creeks at least cleared off, being
under the impression that when the
gravel deposits arc exposed to the scorch-
ing rays of the sun, and rain and atmos-
phere they will readily thaw out. When
winter sets in the hours of sunshine
gradually decrease until during the short
est days the sun shines but four hours
out of the twcnty-four. But at this
period the aurora is most intense and
helps very materially in driving dark
ness from that dreary land. The ther-
momctcr goes down to seventy degrees in
winter, but the atmosphere is very dry,
and consequently the cold is not 50 per-
ceptible as one would imagine.-Juneau
(AlaGa) Free Press.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-12-07
A Paradise for Shoppers.

To any one who likes to "shop"
Tangier would be paradise; for even
very small purchase necessitates a vast
amount of this desultory kind of bust
ness. Though the masculine intellect
can not usually comprehend the charms
of shopping, it must share in the femi,
nine delight that is sure to be inspired
by the bazaars of this strange city.
come are entered from the street; some
from the court which occupies the centre
of most Moorish houses; some arc on the
ground floor, and some are tucked away
in odd corners up. stairs; but all are filled
with the most fascinating wares that q
matter-of fact American ever saw.
Gaudy cushions and slippers made of
the famous Morocco leather, embroidered
scarfs and table covers, gauzy Arab
wraps and barbaric fabrics, huge piles
of rugs and quantities of brassware,
Oriental costumes OF great richness,
scimetars, daggers and long Moorish
guns inlaid with mother of-pearl; the
whole set off by floor of dainty tiles
and perfumcd by the smoke OF burning
pastiles or the scent of altar OF roses;
doesn't that sound attractive:
In curious juxtaposition with these
barbaric wares, triplc-p plated knives and
forks from Connecticut show that
Yankee enterprise is not quite over
looked, even in Morocco. The pro-
prictor, in his robe and turban, is stately
and courle eous, usually speaking French
and Spanish in addition to his native
Arabic, and makes harmonious figure
in the picturesque scene. One can not,
however, buy things in a hurry, unless
he is willing to pay several times their
value, but must take plenty of time to
bargain, or, bette" still, pay several
visits to the store before purchasing,
each time slightly increasing his offer
for the desired goods. If this course be
pursued. the proprietor will gradually
lower his price, until the goods can be
bought for much less than the original
figure. The more visits made the better
Inc bargain. - Cosmopolitan Magazine.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-12-07
Cruelties Once Practiced in Japan.

The stone torture was usually the first
cruelty practiced upon a prisoner. lie
was forced to PROSTATE himself, face
downward, upon the apexes of five
triangular-shapel blocks of hard wood,
the front of his legs being exposed to the
sharp edges. While securely held in
this position heavy stones were placed on
the victims thighs, and others were
slowly added. to increase the terrible
weight. until he became unconscious or
signitiel his intention to confess.
The box torture was still more afro
cious contrivancc. Bound hand and
foot, the culprt was forced into strong
b * about two feet square, having GOV.
eriug made to fit the inside and capable
of being lowered or raised at will. Heavy
weights were placed upon it, and as
these were increased in number, depress.
ing the lid, the poor wretch within the
box was slowly crushed to death.
In using the water torture it was
believed that the torment of thirst
would induce o prisoner to confess his
guilt. After several days subsistence
on a salt diet. without rice and water,
the accused was shut in a room where he
could see and hear the dropping of water
on all sides, but out of his reach. The
cravings and sulrcrings became fearful
under the agony. often approaching the
bounds of insanity.
Deprivation Of sleep was effected by
placing the criminal upon bed, or mat,
over which small stream of water was
continually flowing. Attendants wer'
in eadiness, and at the slightest indica'
ton of slumber they would rouse thcif
victim by ringing bells, beating drums:
or the application of fire to his body,
The treatment rendered sleep impossl
BILE; the poor wretch's mind became dis
ordered under the torture and oftcntime,
left him q raving maniac. .-Nancheste
GouJ.iet,
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-12-07
A Powerful Magnet.

A letter from Bridgeport, Connecticut,
tells of magnet made of cannons; it lifts
. cannon ball as if it were needle:
One of our leading army engineers has
brought beforethe engineer classes OF late
IN experiment of so startling nature In
its inception as to promise wonderful re-
suits. 1t is a monster magnet made of two
Rodman guns, which are connected at
the breech. Around the magnet thus
formed is wound about twenty miles OF
submarine cable. The cable is some that
has been used in the torpedo service. It
is wound and fastened in substantial
manner. making a permanent magnet.
When electricity is applied some strange
results take place. For instance, bar OF
railroad iron thirty feet long, if placed in
the open cannon's mouth, cannot be drawn
out by as many men as can grasp it.
Another instance of the strength of this
big magnet was illustrated Saturday with
three hundred and tifty-ponnd cannon
ball. The shot was placed in the mouth
of the cannon on the negative side. On
reversing the electrical current itfell from
its position, but was attracted to the op-
positc cannon and chung to its side. The
positive current was then reversed alter
nately with the negative, and the heavy
cannon ball played between the two can
mons like tack between the poles OF q
toy magnet. Before many days there viii!
be public exhibition of this remarkably
attractive magnet.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-12-07

They had no other weapons but thei
sheath knives, and one man with re-
volver could hold four or five of them in
the rigging.
When the sloop was at last reported,
we saw a movement among the conspira
tors and knew that they were making
ready. The sloop was coming down
with the wind, while we were making
long tacks to starboart and port. Under
these circumstances she could not well
lay us aboard. Up went signal of dis.
trcss as soon as she thought we could see
it, and she was brought into the wind to
wait for US. We made reach to the
north, and then as we came back on the
other tack we swung into the wind not
a cables length from the sloop. She
was small craft, her decks not more
than two feet above water, and there
were seven men to be seen above hel
rail. Our captain picked uphis trumpet
and shouted:
"Sloop, ahoy! What sloop is that%
One of the men made trumpet of his
hands and shouted back:
"The Annie of Sydney"
"What's your trouble?"
"Sprung leak and going down.
Send boat aboord and take US Off"
The captain had planned for this, and
the boat was all ready. There were
irons and muskets under the seats, and
the third mate and two of the dis.oyal
sailors and five true men were told to 60
off in her No sooner had they left the
ship than the muskets were produced,
the mate informed the two sailors that
their plot was discovered, and the boat
pulled straight for the sloop. When she
got alongside, the FIVE armed men clam
bered up, and, after brief conflict, in
which Winston was killed, the other six
surrendered.
Meanwhile we had our hands full
aboard the ship. AS soon as the boat
pulled away Sam gave the signal for the
uprising, and inside of minute the con-
tlict was raging from forecastle to cabin
doors. The orders to passengers were
to shoot to kill and they obcyed. 1t is
due to the conspirators to say they made
a brave fight. Had we not been fully
prepared for them they would have
taken the ship in five minutes. AS it was,
they killed two men, wounded five and
kept the fight going for ten minutes.
Then they sought hiding places. Only
two sailors actually participated in the
attack on the ship. These two and
twenty-three of the conspirators were
shot dead, and of the seven others
wounded five died before we got in. The
rest of the gang were hunted up one by
one and clapped in irons, and were tried
and hanged on land. Three sailors
suffered with them and the rest were let
off. There was great overhauling OF
officials at Tasmania, rigorous punish
ment was meted out to the recaptured
convicts, and for the next five years
Capt. Flemming and his good ship were
the talk of the land and sea. He gave
me due credit for my share of the work,
as also did the public and the owners of
the Queen Bess, and the voyage home
was my last. l left the ships cabin fox
a scholarship at Etou. -Ne'o York Sun.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-12-07
Living Under Water.

The length of time during which 9
person can live under water, without the
aid of any diving apparatus, is o ques-
ton in dispute among scientific men.
Some travellers have told marvellous
stories of the natives of Eastern countries
who were able 10 stay ten, or even
fifteen, minutes under water, but there
can be no doubt that these are absurd
exaggerations. 1t is well known that
the ordinary divers for coral, sponge and
pearl-oysters do not remain under more
than two minutes, and the "men-hsh"
who exhibit in the museums do not e1-
ceed two minutes and hulf.
The doctors differ in their opinion az
to the time at which death comes In
drowning. Some say in three minutes,
others in five, but none set longer time,
than this, except the drowning person
faints, when respiration and animation
cease. e 49,
A Frenchman, named Lacassagne, has
been for some time studying this subject,
md the results of his experiments and
observations are given IN the Rsca6
Sientifgue. The man upon whom he
eypcrimented was q famous Hungarian
swimmer named James, who, among
other exploits, once swan from Calais to
Dover, and had remained under water
for four minutes and fourteen seconds.
Before diving, it was observed ne first
expelled oil the air from his lungs, and
then took a long breath. After he had.
been under water for minute his heart
beats became slow, irregular and feeble.
After two minutes and thirty-seYen,
seconds there was rush of blood to the
head, and his eyes appeared sunken.
Still he continued to breathe amply and
regularly at the rate of twenty respira-
tions a minute, while at the same time
the observer noticed that the abdominal
cavity diminished greatly in size. :.
NJ. Lacassagnc believes from this, and
from the fact that James was continu-
ally swallowing his saliva, that, In draw
ing the long breath at first, lie swa!!owed
quantity OF air, and that the ordinary
respiratory channels being closed, he
takes into his lungs the air contained in
his stomach, and from thence again
saken, somewhat purified, into his lungs.
That is, in other words, he makes of his
stomach reservoir for air, fact which,
If true, will account for his ability to re- s
main for such an extraordinary time un-
der water. This process, which the
diver performs instinctively and me-
shanically, NJ. Lacassagne believes can
md should be learned by all swimmers,
Is giving them far greater endurance
under the surface than they now possess.
-Kuths Companion. -
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-12-07
Car and Bcggar.

There is a story that is going around in
the French papers about the Car. While
he was stopping recently in the Castle OF
Frcdcnsborg he was fond oftaking little
walks in the ncighborhood. One day no
was accosted by beggar woman with a
child in her arms. In pure Danish and
in the roughest manner possible he told
her to go away and to be pretty quick
about it. The poor woman, terrified,
started off, but was followed by an Of
ficcr. "Here, my good woman, said the
officer, as he put some pieces of gold
into her hand, ''it is the Car who sends
you this, and he hopes that you will for
give his apparent rudeness of a m>mcnt
ago. The fact is, he has just returned
from a visit to his children, who have
the scarlatina, and was afraid that he
might bring the contagion to your child,
if he allowed you to approach his per-
son."
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-12-07
FACTS FOR THE CURIOUS.

The total of the Hebrew race on the
surface of the globe is estimated aa
5000. 900.
One of the curious names to be found
in the Boston directory is Macy Marcy
Mercy Massey.
General Sumpt, Governor of the In.
valides in Paris, lost both his arms at
Sedan, but his artificial substitutes look
80 natural that few people know that hs
is cripple.
1t is singular fact that gypsies do not
mourn the death of their young, much
as they love and cherish the living.
They frequently follow a funeral with
merrymaking.
Sixteen years ago, E. H. Price, OF
Morgan County, Fla, cut down a tree
that stood near his house. The stump is
still green and has increased an inch in
diameter, although no new growth OF
branches has come from it. 's-S'& ,&
Diamond, cat famous as prize win.
ner, and for which an offer of $3.50 is
said to have been refused, died in Hart
ford recently. She was of the tiger vari-t
ETY., and was so large that she was unable
to stand under an ordinary chair.
Frank Hicks, o negro living near Nc
Kinney, Tex, is III years old, and his
descendants, of whom there are six gem
erut:ons, number neatly 1000. Proof OF
his great age is shown by bill of sale
dating back to the early slave days.
A Norwich Comm cocker spaniel
that spent his early days in family Of
children and had his face scrubbed regu..
hrly, will not now, in his old age, eat
breakfast until his face has been washed.
If his toilet is neglected he sits down
and howls loud and long.
An orange grower near Lake Eustis,
Fla, found on one of his trees a fruit
that seemed to be about two-thirds
orange and one-third Japan persimmon.i
lie dug down to the root of the tree
md there found the living root of a per-
,immon tree twined among the roots OF
the orange.
A citizen of Philadelphia claims to have
4 knife that once belonged to Napoleon
I. 1t is superb specimen of the C ltler's
art. 1t weighs nearly pound, and con-
tains, besides four blades, nearly sixteen
implements, among them small saw,
button hook, gimlet, corkscrew, an
lwl, two lances, one for puncturing and
the other for cutting, and a pair of scis-
sors. The rim and holster of the knife
are of solid gold. The handles are OF
pearl, adorned with the imperial arms in
gold, surmounted by the Napoleonic N.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-12-07
A TRINITY.

Sweet Faith is like the daisy bright,
With heart Of gold and petals white,
That blooms from morn until the night,
And wakes from day to day.
Each year, from spring till winters gloom,
Then only sleeps again to bloom
And cheer life's rugged way.
Fair Hope is like the cedar tree;
No matter what the season be,
Its verdure we may ever see.
It tells us constantly
Though faded are the wayside flowers,
Though lonely are the winter hours,
OF Immortality.
But Love, the greatest of them all,
Blooms winter, summer, spring and fall,
Nor night nor death it's strength appall.
Through all eternity
Sweet Faith, Fair Hope within it dwell
All flowers of its beauties tell
A perfect trinity.
Emile Pickhardt.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-12-07

but plenty of lead we'll poured into him
from rifle by man who knows just
where to pour it. If that fails to stop
the bear or cause him to falter, the life Of
the man he is after isn't worth an ounce
of powder. He will be torn to pieces so
quickly that it isn't likely he will know
what disturbed him. 1 have known of
more than one trappcr ending up in that
way, and have heard of many more. ~
New York Times.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-12-07

follows:
CARMEN BELLIcoSUM.
In their ragged regimentals
Stood the old Continentals,
Yielding not,
While the grenadiers were lunging,
And like hail fell the plunging
Cannon shot;
When the files
OF the Isles,
From the smoky night encampment, bore the
banner Of the rampant
Unicorn:
And grummer, grummer, grummer, rolled
the roll of the drummer,
Through the mornl
Then with eyes to the front, all,
And with guns horizontal,
Stood our sires:
While the balls whisted deadly,
And in streams flashing redly
Bla ed the fires:
As the roar
Swept the strong battle-breakers DER the
green sodded acres
Of the plain;
And louder, louder, louder, cracked the black
gunpowder.
Cracking amainl
Now like smiths at their fOrge5
Worked the red St Georges
Cannoneers;
And the villainous saltpeter
Rang a fierce, discordant meter
Round our ears;
As the swift
Storm drift,
With hot sweeping anger came the horse
guards clangor
On our lanks.
Then higher, higher, higher, burned the old
fashioned fire
Through the ranksl
Then the bare-headed Colonel
Galloped through the white Internal
Powder-cloud;
And his broad sword was swinging,
And his brazen throat was ringing
Trumpet loud:
Then the blue
Bullets flew,
And the trooper jackets redden at the touch
of the 1eaden
Rife breath;
And rounder, rounder, rounder, roared the
iron six FOUNDER,
Hurting death.
Of this poem Edmund Clarence Sted-
man wrote in the GaLury Magasine, many
years ago: 'There is nothing like it in
our language; tits the ringing character
istic uttcrance of an original man. There
is perfect blending of sense to sound,
and of both to the spirit of the theme.
TO include picture often ruins song;
but here we have the knot of patriots
clustered upon battle hillside, the pow
der cracking again, the old-fashioned
Colonel galloping with drawn sword,
and as
Rounder, rounder, rounder roared the iron
six-pounder.
Hurting death;
1t seem heavier piece of ordinance, and
charged with weightier issues than q
whole park OF artillery in modern arma-
ment. This song will last with the
memory of revolutionary days" 1t was
written when the author was but twenty
years old and first appeared in the Knick-
erborhrr MWrsiqe for February, 1S49,
under the signature "John McGrom." "
McMastcr became lawyer and at one
time was County Judge of Steuben
County. 1t is strange that man who at
twenty was capable of writing a poem
so original and striking that it was at
once recognized as masterpiece should
have never made further venture in
literature.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-12-07
Tile Author OF One Poem.

The Milwaukee Sentinel Of recent date
says: There died at Bath, Stcuben county,
n. y, last month, at the age of fifty.
eight, man who wrote one celebrated
poem, and, rs far as the public know,
never did anything else that was remark
able. His death has not attracted as
much notice in the press as would that
of a second-class variety show actress.
Indeed the first mention we have seen of
it is not in a newspaper, but in the New
York Critic, literary journal, which
copies IN article on the subject from the
local Bath paper The man was Judge
G. II. McSIaster, and his one poem,
doubtless familiar to many readers of the
Sentllel, since it is included in many of
the current collections of verses, is as
follows.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-12-07

New Year Proverbs Of Oldea Time.
If the grass grows in Janiveer.
It grows the worse for t all the year.
4 January spring
Is worth naethina;.
I'm Ter water daarth;
Under snow, breai.
March in JanivWr,
..anuary in March, fear.
f .!anra caends be summe IL gay
Twi,! bc winterly weather TILL the tasends OF
May.
The blackrst month in all the year
the mouth OF taniveer.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-12-07

A Wisconsin man literally covered
COW with notices of his wares, and then
set her at large as an advertisement.
Huntsville gazette., 1887-12-17
PERSONALS

Mr.. VIM. Mastin is back from q
trip to Birming ham.
DR.. S. A. D. Sheffey has been
spending e few days at home.
Mrs. A. B. Pryor is visiting her
daughter Mrs, Graves in Tyler,
Texas.
Hon. D. D. Shelby and Capt. John D
Brandon returned yesterday from attends
ing court at Athens
Rev. F. Humphrey LETT Wednes-
day to attend the Alabama Synod
which convenes at New Hope.
Revs. II. N Brown and A. W..
Mckinney have returned from Con
ference.
Mrs. Harrett Brown of Nashville
and Mr.. Madison Scott of Canada
are visitinr relatives in the city.
Rev. J. H. Bryson, D. D., returned
from Washington yesterday. where he
has been in attendance at the Evangeli
cal Christian Conference.
Huntsville gazette., 1887-12-17
A. Campbell & Son.

Carpet Department.
Prices for our New Fall Goods.
Best Body Brussels 81.
Tapestry Brussels DOC
Best quality all-wool
Extra Supers 65c
Best quality Cotton
Chain Extra Supers SOC
Cotton and Wool 20
to 40 cents.
Hemp 121a to 15c
Remnants at cost.
Smyrna Rugs 80 cts
to $500.
Our So Rugs were for
merly $1,000
Crumb Cloths, Door
Mats, Art squares.
A Oil Cloth 25c
Window shades, Dra-
peries, Curtain Poles,
Cornices, stair Rods,
Curtain Chains, etc.
Carpets cut free Of
charge.
A. CAMPBELL & SON.
Huntsville gazette., 1887-12-17
THE GOVERNMENT BUILDING.
1t Will be Located in the Centre
of the lot with Front on Ran
dolph, Green and EuStiS
Streets.
The Supervising Architect says the
People Shall be Heard and Their
Wishes Well Considered.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 12,-Supervising
Architect, Freret to day gave instruct
ions for the location of public building
at Huntsville, Ala, on the lot between
Eustis and Randolph street. This action
is taken in accordance with the wishes
Of the citizens Of Huntsville who were
not entirely pleased with the site origi-
nally selected and who made respect
full appeal to the architect for change
Freret, in speaking of the matter to day
said that hereafter in the selection OF sites
for public buildings he will be governed
almost entirely by the wishes of the peo>
pie mosl directly concerned.
Huntsville gazette., 1887-12-17

We have too large stock Of Newmai-
kets. Wraps, and Jackets and in order to
reduce stock will offer during the coming
week
Choice Of 200 at $500 each, some are
worth as much as SO CO. None are worth
less than $500 Call early and get choice
We have very handsome stock OF
Christmas and Holiday Goods. Regular
Santa Claus Headquarters. All OF our
Clothing and Shoes at reduced prices.